In memoriam: Doc Watson

Legendary bluegrass guitarist Doc Watson has passed away.  I remember covering one of his songs for a music therapy class I was part of years ago called "Mama Don't Allow No Music" and having a lot of fun with that.  Watson was an innovator in terms of his flatpicking technique on the acoustic guitar, bringing it along with upright bass, banjo, mandolin and fiddle into the core of a bluegrass band.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/arts/music/doc-watson-folk-musician-dies-at-89.html?emc=na

Here is an example of Watson's playing.  This is a performance from 1979 in which Watson plays the tune, "Tennessee Stud".

Rest In Peace, Doc Watson.  

record collection revisited: Warren Haynes "Live At The Moody Theater"

Warren Haynes and his band did a live performance on their 2011 tour at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, and that performance was recently released on a live CD and DVD set.  I have watched the DVD and listened to the CD several times and it's an enjoyable performance, even though it's a bit different as compared to what Haynes is capable of with the Allman Brothers or Gov't Mule (both bands are ones I've seen live before).  Never had the chance to see Haynes with his R&B band live, so this set is as close as I can get to that.  Still, it's fun to listen to.

Haynes tackles many tracks from the "Man In Motion" record as well as some of his other solo songs and assorted, well chosen cover tunes.  The band has two members left over from the studio recording besides Haynes on guitar of course.  Tenor saxophonist Ron Holloway is one, and the other (who made a guest appearance at the concert), is keyboardist Ian McLagan from The Small Faces and The Faces (which were basically the same band, I think).  Correct me if I am wrong on that.  Other band members include vocalist Alecia Chakour, Nigel Hall on keyboards and vocals, Ron Johnson on bass, and Terence Higgins on drums.
For these songs, Haynes relies on his two main semi hollow Gibson ES335 guitars, only playing his signature Les Paul on two of the tunes. 

The band is very tight even though Johnson's bass playing is not as inspiring as one would think.  He's just holding the groove together.  Who can blame him on that one?  That's the job of the bass player, to lock in with the drummer.  Haynes, Chakour, and Hall provide most of the vocals.  Nigel Hall does a good job on backing vocals, just as Ivan Neville did on the record.  He's no slouch on the keys and is very soulful no matter if he's wailing on the B3 or pounding out riffs on the Clavinet or the Wurlitzer piano.

Some of the covers that Haynes chooses in addition to his own songs are very interesting.  He wrote a song with Ziggy Marley called "Dreaming The Same Dream" and performs his solo number, "Fire In The Kitchen" which is, well, hot!  Towards the end of the set, he also covers "Pretzel Logic" by Steely Dan, really putting a groove on it, and "Spanish Castle Magic" by Jimi Hendrix.  Two songs from the end, he performs his original tune "Tear Me Down" (which was featured on this blog a while ago), and absolutely smokes it!

The encore features two songs.  "Your Wildest Dreams" from "Man In Motion", and Haynes' trademark song "Soulshine" that he's played with both the Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule.  There are bonus tracks in the DVD, too including a sound check version of "Hattiesburg Hustle" from "Man In Motion" and Haynes' number, "Patchwork Quilt".  Those, as well as an original tune called "Power And The Glory" are featured on the DVD, but not the CD.

Great record to listen to if you are an Allman Brothers or Gov't Mule fan who wants to hear a new endeavor from Haynes which was an honest experiment I am sure, that turned out to work well.  Here's the track listing by set and not necessarily by disc.

Warren Haynes Band "Live At The Moody Theater"

Set 1:

1. Man In Motion
2. River's Gonna Rise
3. Sick Of My Shadow
4. A Friend To You
5. On A Real Lonely Night
6. Power & The Glory (DVD)
7. Invisible

Set 2:

8. Take A Bullet
9. Hattiesburg Hustle
10. Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday
11. Frozen Fear
12. Dreaming The Same Dream (written by Warren Haynes & Ziggy Marley)
13. Pretzel Logic (Steely Dan cover)
14. Fire In The Kitchen
15. A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke cover)
16. Spanish Castle Magic (Jimi Hendrix cover)
17. WHB band intro>
18. Tear Me Down

Encore:

19. Your Wildest Dreams
20. Soulshine

DVD bonus tracks

Patchwork Quilt (soundcheck)
Hattiesburg Hustle (rehearsal)

Levon Helm Band "Chest Fever"

Levon Helm would have turned 72 years old yesterday (May 26th).  I had no idea that he and Miles Davis shared the same birthday.  Wow.  To honor Levon (as many have done after his passing and also just because of his wonderful musical legacy), here is a wicked version of The Band's "Chest Fever" featuring Larry Campbell (guitarist for Levon's band), and, Warren Haynes.  Check this out.  Rest In Peace, Levon Helm. 

Sea Level "Storm Warning"

Here's one of the track's I've really been digging off of the recently blogged Sea Level record.  This one is called "Storm Warning".  Check it out.  There may be more of the individual songs blogged in short snippets here soon.  Stay tuned. 

Happy Birthday, Miles Davis

Happy Birthday to Miles Davis!  Today (May 26th) would mark his 86th birthday.  Have a couple Miles fusion albums in mind to write about on the blog and maybe some of his earlier stuff, too.  Stay tuned.

Record Collection revisited: Sea Level “Best Of Sea Level”

The band Sea Level is an interesting one.  The name is a parody on keyboardist Chuck Leavell’s last name.  Leavell is known for his work on B3, as well as acoustic and electric piano.  He’s played with the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, the Black Crowes, and the Rolling Stones before.

This band was an Allman Brothers offshoot which had success after the first breakup of the Allman’s in 1976.  Chuck Leavell on keys was joined by Jaimoe (one of the drummers for the Allman Brothers), along with Lamar Williams on bass (a friend of Jaimoe’s also in the Allman Brothers).  Other members rotated around and included (at various points in the band’s career), Davis Causey and Jimmy Nalls on guitars, Joe English on drums, and David Earle Johnson on percussion and congas.

The band did employ a horn section for many of their songs, particularly on this album.  The horn section included:

Charlie Brent           alto & baritone saxophones

Tony DeGrady         tenor saxophone

Ed Dowling              Trumpet

Rodney Lafon           Trumpet

John Robert Smith     tenor saxophone

This band had an interesting sound.  They crossed boundaries between boogie rock, jazz fusion and R&B.  The sound is unique, and pleasing to the ear.  Guitar and keyboards are the dominant forces between Leavell, Nalls and Causey.  Many tunes are instrumental, but there were some written with lyrics as well including what is probably their most well-known track, “Tear Down This Wall” sung by Leavell with backing vocals by master guitarist and songwriter, Tommy Talton who (along with songwriting partner Scott Boyer), has a connection to the Allman Brothers. 

The music is syncopated and has a definite groove along with it’s polished aura and is played by musicians who can really deliver.  It’s maybe a good introduction to fusion jazz because though it’s complex, it isn’t really jarring or bewildering like some of the more well known fusion bands that have been mentioned in this blog before (i.e. Return To Forever or Weather Report).  The album is worth a listen even if people may dismiss a “greatest hits” album as just being something repackaged from a band’s car

Since this band had a relatively brief lifespan, this is a significant recording.  It’s an innovative sound, especially when it comes to the so often cliché and oxymoron term of “southern boogie rock” that was so prevalent in the 1970s.  Here are the songs on the record.

1. Rain In Spain
2. Shake A Leg
3. Tidal Wave
4. Nothing Matters But The Fever
5. That's Your Secret
6. It Hurts To Want It So Bad
7. Storm Warning
8. Midnight Pass
9. King Grand
10. Living In A Dream
11. This Could Be The Worst
12. Tear Down This Wall
13. Canine Man
14. Twenty Miles From Nowhere

In memoriam: Robin Gibb

Rest In Peace, Robin Gibb from the Bee Gee's.  I have listened to quite a few of their songs from the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack and liked all of them.  What a great group.  May Robin and his brother, the late Maurice Gibb, Rest In Peace.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=153163282

Moog synth madness

I have been floored by Google's celebration of the inventor of the Moog synthesizer, the late, great, Bob Moog.  I posted an article on the Moog sometime ago on this blog.  But, man, I've been having a ball trying to see if I can play that thing from the computer, using the oscillators and all the settings, and even trying, though in a kind of messed up way, to play the Moog lines from Gary Numan's tune, "Cars".  Too cool, man!  Long live the Moog Voyager and Little Phatty synthesizers!

cool guitar story

Here is a feature story from the local Twin Cities CBS affiliate (WCCO TV) about the guitar shop that I frequent quite a bit.  Willie's American Guitars on Cleveland Avenue in St. Paul.  I have bought all three of the guitars I currently own, from them.  This is interesting.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/05/18/inside-the-st-paul-shop-that-sells-guitars-to-the-stars/#.T7p_3uxTzto.facebook

Chick Corea Keyboard Magazine article

OK, so this article is from July 2011.  But any fellow Return To Forever or Chick Corea fans, as well as electronic keyboard gurus should check out this article from Keyboard magazine that was featured on the Moog Music website.  This is a neat deal where Chick just explains his setup he used on the 2011 RTF tour.  I'm a guitar guy, but, I was still fascinated by this.

http://www.moogmusic.com/news/chick-corea-talks-gear-latest-keyboard-magazine

Lee Ritenour & Mike Stern "Smoke 'n' Mirrors"

Here is a hot track.  This is another featuring Lee Ritenour at his best along with fellow fusion guitarist Mike Stern who was featured with the Brecker Brothers on a video posted on this blog months ago.  Stern is another influential fusion guitarist.  The track is called "Smoke 'n' Mirrors".  Ritenour's slide playing here is pretty cool to listen to.  Check it out.

concert revisited: Lynyrd Skynyrd & Hank Williams Jr. @ Target Center: May 19, 2007

As thunderstorms approach our area in St. Paul this afternoon, I am taken back to this day five years ago (a Saturday, just as today is), and seeing Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. at the Target Center on a night that saw these two artists dive into what they are known for, southern fried boogie rock.  To me, Skynyrd can sometimes be an overrated band although I do have a spot in my heart for some of their songs.  That night they played newer songs (at the time) and their old chestnuts ("Freebird", "Sweet Home Alabama", "Gimme Back My Bullets" etc.) and the show did rock and roll as expected.  I was glad to have seen them before their original and legendary keyboard player Billy Powell passed away.

Of all the members in that band as they originally were, of those who had survived to that point, I think I have the most respect for Billy Powell and guitarist Gary Rossington who is now the only surviving original member still in the lineup as former drummer Artimus Pyle and guitarist Ed King have gone on to do other things.  I am not sure I'd rank Skynyrd as one of my favorite bands, but they did influence me on the guitar side of things a lot.  I remember hearing what amounted to a "perfect" set list as all the major staples were in it from "Workin' For MCA" to "Gimme Three Steps", "Gimme Back My Bullets", "Ballad of Curtis Loew" and so many others.  Their recent (at the time) song "Red, White & Blues" (from their "Vicious Cycle", album, also struck me on a patriotic note, despite what people may say about patriotism in our society being overrated and commercialized, which, to an extent, it sure is.

There isn't much to say about the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's that hasn't already been said.  My deal with Skynyrd is, I like some of the deeper tracks on their recordings and have heard plenty of "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama", to say, "OK, y'all, cool it."  But there are some other tracks in their repertoire that do put a smile on my face.  I know, I know.  I've got a bit of a redneck streak in me.  Some of the boogie bands I listen to represent that side (Skynyrd and the Charlie Daniels Band come to mind), while other boogie rock bands I've spoken of (the Allman Brothers, the Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, Elvin Bishop, or, Grinderswitch), really bring out my more eclectic side that pines for R&B and jazz.

Southern music has become a part of me whether that's blues, country, or jazz.  They all came from the deep south.  I do appreciate Skynyrd's musicianship on the parts of the late Billy Powell and other fallen members of the band.  They had good chops for the most part.  It will be a show I do remember always and was a good time.  Hank Williams Jr. was also a part of that set.  I do like his music, and particularly what his father Hank Sr. did.  He isn't anywhere close to Hank Sr. on songwriting and is more like Skynyrd in the sense he just wants to get down, rock out and party.

But that particular night at the Target Center, I came away with a couple things.  Ol' "Bocephus" (a nickname his dad gave him), is an entertainer more than anything who does speak his mind on what he feels about current events or on music in general.  But, beyond that rowdy image, I thought his band was very well versed (much like Lynyrd Skynyrd).  I mean, heck, Hank Jr's harmonica and saxophone player in his band is none other than former Wet Willie front man Jimmy Hall who is definitely an influence on me when it comes to singing or just hearing someone who can belt out a tune.  He can play the heck out of a sax or a harp.  It would have been cool to hear him actually sing something with Hank, too.   That particular evening though, I think Hank was seemingly buzzed on something and kind of meandered and rambled his way through the set, even though the band was absolutely on fire!

So, as much of a rowdy, redneck deal that gig might have been, I still took something musical away from it.  I think Skynyrd has always been a band that isn't afraid to do things their own way, crank up their three guitar army and have a heck of a time playing music for their devoted fans.  Now to dust off a three disc compilation set and listen to a few of their old demos which were very good and just as well done if not more so than the current renditions of some of their well known songs.

P.S. Rest In Peace Allen Collins, Ronnie van Zant, Leon Wilkeson, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, Billy Powell, and Hughie Thomasson (who played guitar with both Lynyrd Skynyrd, and fellow boogie rock band, The Outlaws).

Steve Kimock "Ice Cream" Part 2

Here is part two of the live version of "Ice Cream".  The finale, if you will.  The band REALLY turns up the heat towards the end.

Steve Kimock "Ice Cream" Part 1

This is one of my favorite songs.  An instrumental by guitarist Steve Kimock entitled "Ice Cream".  Kimock has a unique, chord based sound that is jangly and has a slight bite at the same time.  The studio version of this track is great.  But, this particular version with Kimock's newer quartet band with Bernie Worrell of Parliament Funkadelic fame on B3 is even more enjoyable to listen to.  It is a live performance in two parts.  Part one is in this entry.  Stay tuned for part two, to follow.

Larry Carlton & Lee Ritenour "Closed Door Jam"

Here is another gem from the collaborative efforts of Carlton and Ritenour.  This is "Closed Door Jam".  Carlton (known as "Mr. 335") seems to have a change of tonal ideas on this track and makes use of a Fender Stratocaster to great effect. 

Larry Carlton & Lee Ritenour "Room 335"

This is the first of two songs I found that are really interesting collaborations between Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour.  The title on this one is a reference to the guitars that both of them play (namely, the Gibson ES335).

record collection revisited: Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper & Stephen Stills "Super Session"

Here is a record near and dear to my heart.  When I first heard "Super Session", that made me really begin to dig into Mike Bloomfield.  I'd heard the name before, but not much as far as what he could do with a guitar.  Holy smokes!  I'd heard Clapton, Hendrix, Duane Allman and the like.  But hearing Bloomfield's Les Paul through a Fender Twin Reverb amp made me see that someone could achieve a very strong, beautiful tone on a Les Paul without it becoming overly huge and have nuance to it.  OK.  So, that's the guitar geek in me coming out.  But, still, that's what makes this record, even though Bloomfield played on I think just four or five tracks and while he was out of commission due to some substance (obviously, this thing was still recorded during the '60s revolution), Steve Stills also played on the record.

But, it's Bloomfield's work along with Al Kooper on organ on some of the opening cuts like "Albert's Shuffle", "Stop", and "Really" that just floor me.  There is something unique about this record's sound even though it could very well just be considered a regular ol' electric blues record.  I met someone (actually a college professor who I never worked with but who I knew a little bit), who was a '60s rock and roll fan.  I mentioned I was a guitarist.  He said, "have you heard Mike Bloomfield?"  I said, "no, I haven't".  Well, from the time the prof told me who he was, I KNEW I had to check him out.

I subsequently got into his work with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and his collaboration in that band with Elvin Bishop who I was familiar with already from his '70s boogie rock chart toppers.  But Bloomfield was someone who I latched onto the style of almost instantly as he gets a tone out of a Les Paul that maybe hasn't been heard before or since.  For a guitarist, this is a must have record.  I'll say that much.  Here's the track listing.

1. Albert's Shuffle
2. Stop
3. Man's Temptation
4. His Holy Modal Majesty
5. Really
6. It Takes A Lot To Laugh (It Takes A Train To Cry)
7. Season Of The Witch
8. You Don't Love Me
9. Harvey's Tune
10. Albert's Shufffle (2002 remix w/o horns)
11. Season Of The Witch (2002 remix w/o horns)
12. Blues For Nothing (bonus track)
13. Fat Grey Cloud (live) (bonus track)

Great record.  Check it out.

Grinderswitch "Kill The Pain"

Here's another Grinderswitch song.  This is "Kill The Pain" from their 1976 record "Pullin' Together". 

The Grateful Dead "Shakedown Street"

I've had this tune in my head all day today.  So, I figured I'd better post it.  The Grateful Dead, "Shakedown Street".  Here's the original studio track.  Check it out.  The Dead tended to really make this one a jam tune live in concert.  Now, I personally have not really been much of a "Deadhead" as they're called.  But still, I do like their music in some ways.  They can jam and write great songs.  That's for sure.

 

In memoriam: Donald "Duck" Dunn

Donald "Duck" Dunn, legendary bassist and longtime collaborator to guitarist Steve Cropper in Booker T & the MG's has passed away.  I had a chance to see Booker T with Cropper and "The Duck" along with drummer Steve Potts and vocalist Eddie Floyd years ago at a gig at The Dakota Jazz Club in downtown Minneapolis.  Floyd wrote a bunch of the hit songs that made the soul and R&B music charts back in the '60s under artists like Wilson Pickett or Sam & Dave.  Booker T & the MG's were the backing band for many of those tunes and of course, who can forget their seminal hit instrumental, "Green Onions".  "Duck" Dunn was right in the pocket with Steve Cropper and drummers Al Jackson or Steve Potts (depending on the era of the MG's) and was a very solid player.  I will always remember the gig they played at The Dakota on June 16th, 2010, having heard an interview with Booker T on Minnesota Public Radio that morning and getting a spot for the late show at The Dakota in the evening.  Here's the full story on the passing of Donald "Duck" Dunn from MPR.  Rest In Peace, "Duck". 

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/05/13/donald-duck-dunn/

Warren Haynes "Tear Me Down"

Here's a REALLY cool number by Warren Haynes played with his solo band at last year's Wanee Festival called "Tear Me Down".  This track was obviously written by Haynes.  But, oddly enough it was NOT included on the "Man In Motion" CD for some reason or another.

Frank Gambale "Fit To Be Tied"

Found another wicked Frank Gambale track, actually attributed to a band called Vital Information that Frank, and drummer Steve Smith have been a part of in the past.  Smith played drums with the GHS power trio (Gambale, Hamm & Smith) of course.  This track is called "Fit To Be Tied".  It combines fusion with sensibilities of classic jazz in the middle portion.  There is a keyboardist on the track playing what is either a real B3 or a good simulator of one in a synthesizer.  Not sure which.  Sounds like a real one to me.  This is a neat tune.  Very funky in the main theme with Steve Smith's drumming absolutely swinging!

Record collection revisited: Robert Johnson, The Complete Recordings

Today, (May 8th), marks the 101st birthday of legendary blues man Robert Johnson.  Johnson was not the first well known blues musician.  But, he is probably the most significant figure in the lore of Delta blues as many musicians, critics, fans etc. can attest.  I wrote a report for a college writing class on Johnson's musical legacy years ago.  This is a synopsis more or less of his complete recordings which were released in 1990, after being recorded in Texas in 1936 and 1937.  Johnson was known to do at least two takes on a song with just him, and his secondhand Gibson L-1 acoustic guitar.  People have claimed he was pure legend, and in many ways, he was.

Here is the complete list of recordings he made which were released on two discs by Columbia Records in 1990.  *Note: some songs are the same tune, just an alternate take.  If you are a blues fan and haven't heard Robert Johnson, definitely check him out and then, go back and listen to other artists who were popular in the Delta in the '20s and '30s.  There were many of them.

Disc 1

1. Kindhearted Woman Blues (take 1)
2. Kindhearted Woman Blues (take 2)
3. I Believe I'll Dust My Broom
4. Sweet Home Chicago
5. Rambling on My Mind (take 1)
6. Rambling on My Mind (take 2)
7. When You Got a Good Friend (take 1)
8. When You Got a Good Friend (take 2)
9. Come On In My Kitchen (take 1)
10. Come On In My Kitchen (take 2)
11. Terraplane Blues
12. Phonograph Blues (take 1)
13. Phonograph Blues (take 2)
14. 32-20 Blues
15. They're Red Hot
16. Dead Shrimp Blues
17. Cross Road Blues (take 1)
18. Cross Road Blues (take 2)
19, Walking Blues
20. Last Fair Deal Gone Down

Disc 2

1. Preaching Blues (Up Jumped The Devil)
2. If I Had Possession over Judgment Day
3. Stones In My Passway
4. I'm A Steady Rollin' Man
5. From Four Till Late
6. Hellhound on My Trail
7. Little Queen of Spades (take 1)
8. Little Queen of Spades (take 2)
9. Malted Milk
10. Drunken Hearted Man (take 1)
11. Drunken Hearted Man (take 2)
12. Me and the Devil Blues (take 1)
13. Me and the Devil Blues (take 2)
14. Stop Breakin' Down Blues (take 1)
15. Stop Breakin' Down Blues (take 2)
16. Traveling Riverside Blues
17. Honeymoon Blues
18. Love In Vain (take 1)
19. Love In Vain (take 2)
20. Milkcow's Calf Blues (take 1)
21. Milkcow's Calf Blues (take 2)

All great songs.  Check out Robert Johnson's music if you haven't already.  He is one of, if not the greatest Delta blues musicians of all time, and the most well known and revered.

Grinderswitch "Roll On Gambler"

Another cut from the "Honest To Goodness" record by Grinderswitch circa 1974.  The song is "Roll On Gambler"

Incidentally, it should be noted that on this particular recording, guest artists included (from the Allman Brothers), Dickey Betts, and, Jaimoe.

Weather Report "A Remark You Made"

Here is what is probably my favorite tune off of the "Heavy Weather" record by Weather Report discussed in yesterday's post.  "A Remark You Made".  Enjoy this one.

record collection revisited: Weather Report "Heavy Weather"

"Heavy Weather" is the title of the best known album by jazz fusion band Weather Report.  This band was another fusion offshoot in the 1970s including members of former bands led by Miles Davis during his electric period.  Joe Zawinul on keys and Wayne Shorter on saxes were Davis band alumni and in this band, also featured were drummer Peter Erskine and bassists Miroslav Vitous and Jaco Pastorius.  Jaco had fully become a part of Weather Report by the recording of "Heavy Weather" in 1977.  Weather Report used the same complexities as other fusion bands in their music.  But, they seemed to be more accessible to listeners through their musical style than say Return To Forever or Mahavishnu Orchestra, paving the way for the "smooth jazz" era in the '80s while retaining complexities found in the sound of jazz fusion.

The instrumental tracks rely heavily on Zawinul's use of synthesizers along with Pastorius on bass and Shorter on sax.  Shorter switched frequently between tenor and soprano saxophone on this record and on their other albums.  The songs are adventurous to listen to.  One of them ("Rumba Mama") has percussion and singing.  It is perhaps the band's take on "Birdland" that is the most recognizable of all their numbers, including those on this album.  Joe Zawinul wrote it.  But, it became a staple among other artists including jazz trumpet extraordinaire Maynard Ferguson, infamous jazz drummer Buddy Rich, Manhattan Transfer, and, even, The String Cheese Incident (according to the article about the tune from Wikipedia). 

The tune is a tribute to the Birdland jazz club in New York City named after Charlie Parker.  It's form as to how the song was written is very unique.  Jaco Pastorius is noted for his scat singing on it as well as his bass work on the whole album whether on fretted or fretless bass.  Besides the title cut, there are whole lot of other listenable and musical numbers within the album such as "A Remark You Made" where Shorter or tenor sax and Pastorius ob bass really stand out, and the unique track "Rumba Mama" which is just percussion overlaid with vocals.  Puerto Rican percussionist Manolo Badrena sings and plays on "Rumba Mama". 

Badrena has played with not just Weather Report, but also with acts like The Rolling Stones, Art Blakey, contemporary jazz fusion/smooth jazz band Spyro Gyra, Blondie, The Talking Heads, Michael Franks and jazz piano legend Ahmad Jamal.  This is a fun recording to listen to because of all the different sounds and emotions the band achieves in the compositions and how syncopated they are.  Check out Weather Report.  I do have another album of theirs and that one will be reviewed soon as well.  Stay tuned.

Here's the track list for "Birdland"

1. Birdland
2. A Remark You Made
3. Teen Town
4. Harlequin
5. Rumba Mama
6. Palladium
7. The Juggler
8. Havona

stolen guitars, ugh!

I read something that bugged me today.  A favorite guitar shop in St. Paul had gear stolen from it somehow.  People who are thieves are a given to get to me.  But, stealing guitars is just wrong!  Though, I realize they are vulnerable for being as valuable and sought after as they are (most of the well known brands cost quite a bit of bread).  Willie's was one store hit and the other was Guitar Rodeo.  Ugh!  Thieves are out to steal anything, and guitars are certainly on the list.  Some very prominent musicians have had the embarrassment of having gear stolen while on the road.  Some people just are very clever and know what they want.  But, IMO, save the dough to buy the guitar.  Don't steal it! 

Miles Davis Isle of Wight Festival gig, 1970

Holy cow!  I just happened upon video of a Miles Davis show at Isle of Wight circa 1970.  This is a wild ride!  Fans never knew what to expect when Miles hit the stage in the '70s with his core road band (here, featuring Chick Corea and Keith Jarrett on keys, Dave Holland on bass, Gary Bartz on saxes, Jack DeJohnette on drums and Airto Moreira on percussion).  Incidentally, I think this whole show can be found in different parts on YouTube, and, is on a DVD as well.

In Memoriam: Dick Clark

Host of the popular music TV show and all around media and music pioneer, Dick Clark, has passed away on April 18th.  Some of this generation may or may not remember the show.  But, Dick Clark was influential in launching the careers of countless music stars.  “American Bandstand” aired for 37 years between 1952 and 1989.  Clark hosted between 1956 and 1989.  The show started out by having records played and then, in the 1960s, artists began performing live on it.  Countless names appeared and thus became well known through the show.  A partial list from the Wikipedia article about the show lists artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis, Simon & Garfunkel, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, Ike & Tina Turner, Chubby Checker, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Buddy Holly and Sam Cooke.

Clark gave countless new artists a chance to appear on the show and that’s what ultimately launched them to stardom.  He was also a businessman and hosted other TV game shows, making him a large force within the whole of the entertainment industry with controversies that did come along the way including a payola scandal at one point.  Clark partnered with Johnny Carson for a time in the late 1980s on television projects.  He had a production company and also ventured into the business of overseeing theaters and being a restaurateur.  Clark also hosted New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, an event he created, which, after he suffered a stroke, was taken over by entertainment personality Ryan Seacrest.  

Some readers may be a bit young to remember Dick Clark.  However, his impact on the entertainment industry as a whole was widely felt.  He will be missed.  But, he will be remembered for his role of bringing popular music very successfully to the television screen and as a pioneer in the worlds of TV and the whole of media.  Rest In Peace, Dick Clark.

Grinderswitch "Catch A Train"

Another Grinderswitch track.  This is "Catch A Train" from the "Honest To Goodness" album from 1974.